Traction and speed.

Unless you ride road or 'cross, Vredestein might not be an instantly recognizable name, as this company's mountain tires rarely make the swim across the pond. However, this is quickly changing as more and more of us Yanks are experiencing the quality that this century-old Dutch company is capable of. Case in point is the tubeless-ready Black Panther Xtreme 27.5in TLR Tire.

Vredestein is known for obsessing over the compositions of its rubber compounds and the way that they're applied to specific zones of the tire. It calls this Tricomp X technology, as testing has shown Vredestein engineers where specific rubber compounds and tread patterns work to provide the lowest rolling-resistance and maximum grip in all weather conditions. By using different compounds in the tread and shoulder, and combining this with a knob structure specifically suited to these compounds, the tire provides a well-balanced blend of speed, grip, and low overall weight.

The Xtreme differs significantly from Vredestein's standard Black Panther and Xtrac versions, in that it uses varying knob sizes that have been arranged in a different pattern. And while the original Black Panther and Xtrac iterations employ a central row of knobs, the Xtreme uses more of a staggered arrangement with open 'pockets' down the center. Additionally, the side knobs were beefed up, growing both taller and wider in order to provide enhanced bite on the sidewalls. The advantage of this tread arrangement is that you receive improved overall grip in wet conditions, increased mud-shedding capabilities, and enhanced cornering traction in comparison to both the original and Xtrac versions.

Similar to the other Black Panthers, the Xreme is UST/tubeless-ready. Vredestein also incorporated its anti-puncture system directly into the tread compound, keeping the overall weight of the tire low.

The Vredestein Black Panther Xtreme 27.5in TLR Tire is available in the color Black and in a 27.5 x 2.1in size.